Church Street including the Old Thatche Shoppe to the left, Islay House to the right and the Crown Public House with adjoining shops in the centre. Date unknownAttleborough Heritage Group For centuries, the Crown Public House has been an integral part of Great Ellingham. It is one of five known pubs in Great Ellingham and…
Category: Yeomans
18th Century Owners of ‘Daddocks’ later called Tanyard Farm
Tanyard Farm. Photograph Lucinda Bell-Tye Tanyard Farm is one of Great Ellingham’s wonderful historic buildings. Norfolk Heritage Explorer mentions that the origins of this Grade II listed property may well date back to the 14th or 15th century. It was built as an open hall house. It has a timber-frame with a rendered wattle and…
Edward Gaskin and his link to Tanyard Farm
Tanyard Farm. Photograph Lucinda Bell-Tye There is no doubt that a last will and testament can provide family historians with valuable information. However, it can throw up more questions than answers! Here we look at the content of the will of Edward Gaskin dated the 15th October, 1763. A time when George III occupies the…
Jeffrey Towler ‘in Perfect Good Health & Sound Mind”
On the 3rd October, 1820, Jeffrey Towler, a yeoman, of Great Ellingham signed his last will and testament. Robert Sheldrake, Elizabeth Yeoman and John Steel all witnessed his signature. Jeffrey was 67 years old. The will tells us that at the time Jeffrey made his will, he was “in perfect good health and of sound…
William Wells steals John Yeoman’s Trousers!
Illustration Christine Fuller The Norfolk Chronicle published on Saturday 9th April 1853, included a report of some of the recent cases heard at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions at The Shirehall in Norwich. Amongst the defendants is 18 year old William Wells. Wells had been lodging with Robert Rose in Great Ellingham along with fellow lodger…
The History of Swamp Lane Cottages – Part II
At the turn of the 19th century, there were very few dwellings along the lane which we know today as Swamp Lane. Those that did exist were at the northern end of the lane. Part I In Part I, we discovered that at the time of the Great Ellingham Inclosures, the Commissioners awarded Alice Jessup…
The History of Glenfield House & Cottage – Part II
Photograph taken December 2023 Great Ellingham is fortunate to have a wealth of historical houses. Many of these may have narrowly escaped the fate of demolition, as happened to so many of the village’s old cottages. Glenfield House and Glenfield Cottage comprise the characterful thatched house standing along the Attleborough Road, near to the junction…
The History of Glenfield House & Cottage – Part III
Photograph taken December 2023 In Parts I and II of the ‘History of Glenfield House & Cottage”, we looked at the owners and occupiers of this delightful thatched and tiled house from around 1762 until 1865. Here in Part III, we continue the story. ‘Glenfield’ It is only in relatively recent times that the thatched…
The History of The Crown Public House – Part III
The Crown Public House possible 1960s. Courtesy Tony Brooks The Crown in Church Street is one of at least five pubs and beer houses which were once in Great Ellingham. However, it is now the only surviving public house in the village. The origins of the pub go back over 200 years. The first mention…
‘Black Sheep’ in the Family
I am sure that many of us will find a few ‘black sheep’ amongst our ancestors. These ‘black sheep’ are usually individuals who are seen as troublemakers, failures or just people who do not fit in with the rest of the family. They may also bring disgrace or disrepute upon the family and, in consequence,…